Lehi tight end Dallin Holker (5) gathers himself just after scoring a touchdown during a 5A state semifinal game between the Lehi Pioneers and the Springville Red Devils on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

Lehi tight end Dallin Holker (5) throws off Woods Cross cornerback Seth Saylin (10) as Holker drives the ball up the field during a playoff game between the Lehi Pioneers and the Woods Cross Wildcats on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 at Lehi High School. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

Local high school athletes finalize commitments to compete at the next level

Lehi tight end Dallin Holker (5) gathers himself just after scoring a touchdown during a 5A state semifinal game between the Lehi Pioneers and the Springville Red Devils on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

Lehi tight end Dallin Holker (5) throws off Woods Cross cornerback Seth Saylin (10) as Holker drives the ball up the field during a playoff game between the Lehi Pioneers and the Woods Cross Wildcats on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 at Lehi High School. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

BYU tight ends coach Steve Clark said Wednesday during the Cougar signing day press conference that one of the first things he did when new BYU offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes got the job was send him the video of Lehi star tight end Dallin Holker.

“I said, ‘This is a guy I am really excited about,’” Clark said. “He (Grimes) called me and said, ‘What is wrong with this guy?’ I was like, ‘Oh, great.’ But then he said, ‘This kid could play at LSU where I’m at, in the SEC. Why aren’t more people on him?’ I told him that Dallin committed but he was getting attention. Grimes said don’t tell him I said that. We’ll just keep it quiet. One of the first things he did when he came out was schedule a meeting with Dallin and his parents to reassure Dallin we would be using the tight end.”

Holker is just one of dozens of Utah Valley athletes to have signed letters of intent in the last couple of months to play at the collegiate level.

The Pioneer star, however, didn’t end up signing with BYU in December and that made Clark just a little apprehensive.

“We had to keep working but it was fun,” Clark said. “He’s a great kid. He’s so quiet but very polite and a really nice kid. We went to his basketball games and to his house. He’s a great one to get.”

When Holker’s signed letter of intent arrived Wednesday, Clark could finally rest easy.

“Today is a culmination of about a year-and-a-half of work,” Clark said. “We offered Dallin right after his junior year because we wanted this kid. He committed right around this time last year and then it was trying to hold people off as long as we could.”

Holker’s story is one of many that could be told by area athletes and their families as they have gone through the recruiting process and finally decided to commit to play for a certain program.

Here’s a look at the latest list of local athletes who have signed letters of intent to play college sports:

Lehi

Dallin Holker, football, BYU

Will Overstreet, football, Washington State

Qi’sean Rust, football, Dakota State

Kadyn Wilbur, football, Culver-Stockton College

Drake Knowles, football, SUU

Hayden Erickson, football, SUU

Jaxson Harward, football, Northern State

Kade Moore, football, BYU (preferred walk-on)

Lincoln Bunker, football, BYU (preferred walk-on)

Lone Peak

Connor Pay, football, BYU

Thomas Bateman, football, Snow College

Chanson Vawdrey, boys soccer, Snow College

Karli Nyland, girls soccer, Utah Valley University

Olivia Midgley, girls soccer, Westminister

Mikaela Smith, girls soccer, Southern Virginia University

Maple Mountain Kayla Thompson, girls soccer, Gonzaga

Chloe Martin, girls soccer, Snow College

Julia Dean, girls soccer, Snow College

Aubrey Mitton, girls soccer, USU Eastern

Rylie Bunce, girls soccer, USU Eastern

Sadie Miner, gymnastics, BYU

Joe Biesinger, football, Snow College

Mikki Mills, softball, Western Nebraska

Haley Green, women’s volleyball, Stockton Univ, New Jersey

Collin Reid, football, BYU (preferred walk-on)

Orem

Cole Watts, football, Nevada-Reno

Paul Kongaika, football, William Penn

Peter Kenese, football, William Penn

Raphael Cooper, football, William Penn

Austin Kirkby, football, SUU

Ryan To’a, football, Arizona Western

Andrew To’a, football, Dixie

Provo

AJ Reed, girls soccer, Snow College

Taylor Field, girls soccer, USU Eastern

Salem Hills

Jacob Rolfe, football, Southern Virginia

Jackson O’Hara, football, Southern Virginia

James Nelson, boys basketball, Northwest Nazarene College

Lauren Gustin, girls basketball, University of Idaho

Spanish Fork

Tyler Sorenson, baseball, College of Souther Idaho

Josh Cowden, baseball, SLCC

Jordan Bate, softball, SLCC

Mallory Barber, softball, SLCC

Brooke Carter, softball, SLCC

Gabby Beckstrom, softball, SLCC

Ashlee Hunt, girls soccer, USU Eastern

Makayla Bryson, girls soccer, McPherson (Kansas)

Hallie Rhees, girls soccer, Snow College

Timpanogos

Tess Donaldson, girls soccer, Dixie State

Katy Babb, girls soccer, Snow College

Brandon Benson, cross country, Utah State

Maddie Moffitt, cross country, BYU

Timpview

Jacob Bosco, football, Weber State

Jackson Cravens, football, University of Utah

Karene Reid, football, Utah State

Beau Tuua, football, Weber State

Braxton Whitney, football, Air Force Academy

Ashton Brockbank, girls soccer, BYU

Katie Haskins, girls soccer, Utah Valley University

Marren Nielsen, girls soccer, Utah State

Kelsey Salvesen, girls soccer, Utah State

Hunter Erickson, men’s basketball, BYU

Aiden Troutner, cross country/track, BYU

Wasatch

Mitch Nelson, football, Snow College

Bob Schick, football, Snow College

Westlake

Emily Brockett, girls soccer, William Penn University

While these were the names that were submitted as having signed on Wednesday, there were likely others that weren’t confirmed. If you know of any others who signed letters of intent, please email Jared Lloyd (jlloyd@heraldextra.com) to add their names to this list.